"If I had an opportunity to work for Lovie Smith, I would cherish it," said Barry, who was fired as Detroit's defensive coordinator when Marinelli was dismissed as the Lions' head coach.

"I have a relationship with coach Smith. I have a relationship with (general manager) Jerry Angelo. So if that was an opportunity, it would be something I definitely would be interested in."

The opportunity might have presented itself Tuesday. The Bears fired linebackers coach Lloyd Lee after one season, the second defensive assistant to be cut from the staff. Defensive backs coach Steven Wilks was let loose last week. Defensive line coach Brick Haley is set to take the same position at LSU.

The Bears would not confirm Marinelli, formerly a close associate of Smith's, had been offered the defensive line job, but his reputation as a defensive line specialist certainly makes him a front-runner for the position. He interviewed for the Seattle defensive coordinator's job Monday. The Bears also could designate him an assistant head coach.

"I just want to coach," said Barry, whose defense finished last in the league. "I love coaching. Obviously, linebackers are what I coached before I became a coordinator. I want to coordinate [again]. I want to be a head coach. But if I have to go back and be a linebackers coach again, I would definitely do it. That's what I am."

The new linebackers coach will be the fourth in as many seasons at the position. Lee succeeded Hardy Nickerson, who stepped down after the 2007 season. Bob Babich coached the linebackers for three seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator.

Linebacker Lance Briggs figured Lee's status was in doubt. He had planned to take Lee to the Pro Bowl next month in Hawaii, but Lee unexpectedly canceled the trip Monday night.

"I've always liked Lloyd Lee," Briggs said. "He was a preacher of fundamentals. He didn't miss out on any details. If there was something in the playbook we needed to know or prepare for, Lloyd made sure we knew it. He would repeat it until it was beat into our minds."